Localized Breast Cancers May Have Systemic Influences on Skin and Hair

The study investigated the expression of biomarkers in breast cancer and skin tissues from 33 women with breast cancer and 32 normal controls. It found significant correlations in the expression of cyclin D1, bcl-2, and p53 between breast and skin epithelial cells in normal women, which were elevated in women with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). HER-2 was not expressed in normal tissues but was present in the skin of some women with HER-2-positive breast cancer. Additionally, oestrogen receptor alpha was more frequently expressed in the skin of women with IDC and DCIS compared to controls. The findings suggested that localized breast cancer could have systemic effects, influencing skin and hair.